Members of the Orillia Pickleball Club are working with the city to help grow the game in Orillia.
The club was founded in June by Frank Corker, who now serves as president, and volunteer organizers who want to ensure there are opportunities for those who want to play the sport to enjoy it locally.
While working alongside the city, the Orillia Pickleball Club has successfully advocated for several pickleball drop-in programs that are available to the public in the gym at the Orillia Recreation Centre each week.
"It's played here at the rec centre seven days a week," Corker explained. "There is time on Saturdays, Sundays, and evenings so kids and families can play."
While Corker is thankful for the indoor programs, he says Orillia doesn't have enough courts to meet the demand of one of the globe's fastest-growing sports.
"It's a sport where you can just come and play," he said. "It's something you can play on your schedule, it's easy to learn, very economical, and it's very social."
The City of Orillia has applied for a provincial tourism and culture grant to help build eight provincially sanctioned courts in the courtyard of the Orillia Recreation Centre, alongside a new skatepark, which was recently approved by city council. The city is asking the Orillia Pickleball Club to contribute $10,000 to the project.
"This will allow us to have tournaments," Corker said. "When pickleball becomes an Olympic sport, this will become a popular training ground."
The parking, washrooms, and staff at the Orillia Recreation Centre make it the perfect place for the new courts, Corker says. He estimates that building the new facility will cost around $350,000. The rest of the grant will be used to build a skateboard park and other amenities at the Orillia Recreation Centre property on West Street South.
"The application for provincial funding has been made and that should be announced in the next three to four months," Corker said. "We are hopeful that we will be playing here in the summer of 2025."
Orillia Pickleball Club executive member Vicki Reed says the new facility will benefit people of all ages and skill levels.
"There are more younger people hopping on board every day," she said, noting the sport is growing the fastest among 18- to 34-year-olds.
Once the Pickleball Club secures funding to build the new courts, they plan on working with the city to cement their place at the facility.
"We want to have dedicated times and pay for them just like the Tennis Club does for their courts" at the West Orillia Sports Complex, Corker explained. "We also want to run specific programs."
If the club isn't successful in securing funding for new courts, Corker says it will turn its focus to making things work with the courts at Homewood Park, the gym at the Orillia Recreation Centre, and the unofficial courts in Tudhope Park.
"The kiss of death is to be too confident," Corker chuckled.
"But we are feeling pretty optimistic," Reed added.
For more information about the Orillia Pickleball Club, click here.
